Fresno State
- Thread starter yekrut321
- Start date
Because Steiner thinks:
(Oklahoma State + Iowa State) > (Stanford + Oregon State) ?
(For competition and recruiting?)
"We are very pleased and proud to accept an invitation to Big 12 Conference. This is an important step in defining the future of Fresno State Wrestling. The Big 12 offers a strong athletic conference particularly in wrestling as we will compete with some of the best teams in the nation, giving the Valley an opportunity to see some competitive home duals and to continue the strong tradition of wrestling at one of the toughest conference championships in the NCAA," said head coach Troy Steiner.
...
Big 12 Conference Wrestling Members (2017-18)
- Air Force
- Fresno State
- Iowa State
- North Dakota State
- Northern Colorado
- Northern Iowa (also entering the conference in 2017-18)
- Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State
- South Dakota State
- Utah Valley
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
IIRC, Pac 12 was concerned that Fresno might try to someday wedge their way in for football.
Should be noted that Fresno probably would be WWC and not B12, until those 2 conferences merged.
That and Fresno State doesn't bring much tv market share with them. They also aren't at the academic level of the other PAC12 schools.
Fresno was offered a Pac-12 affiliate spot after Boise dropped. By that time, Fresno was already close to securing a deal with the Big 12. Affiliates have lengths to their contracts (like UNI, Mizzou and ODU with the MAC for example). We saw UNI's expire and they went Big 12. Fresno still could end up in the Pac-12 down the line, but not sure the landscape of the Pac-12 wrestling is where they want to be right now.
Thanks for the info. I didn't know Fresno State was offered a spot after Boise State left. Last year it seemed like the Pac12 wanted absolutely nothing to do with Fresno State.
